We have heat pumps, which we set to 'heat' only - so that it does not go through the continous heating and cooling that it does on 'Auto'. I have never found the dry setting to be much cop and when it is in 'Dry' mode it barely gives out any heat.

I have the dehumidifier on periodically in our spare room; where I keep, washing, ironing and damp laundry and might shift it about from one room to another for a few days at a time, if I feel it is needed.

I think you will find a combination of heating and dehumidifying compliment each other and work better together. So it's not really a case of either/or. Drier air is easier to heat than damp air and the dehumidifer is more effective in a warmer environment.

Honestly just bite the bullet and get a dehumidifier, one with the biggest tank you can find and don't mess about with the piddly little ones or you'll be emptying it three times a day.

I had a Warehouse 'special' 16L that didn't cost much as I recall, it lasted almost seven years and I had no qualms with replacing it recently with another of the Warehouse's finest jobbies, cost $299 You can pay anything up to seven or eight hundred for flashy Delonghi or Mitsubishi one.

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/ca...E=?SKU=1570996

I would not be without one.

thanks Bo-Jangles, that's really helpful. I was skeptical that the heatpump could effectively do both jobs. The dry setting is not impressive at all, and no matter how long we run it, everything still feels damp. It's also trying to heat/dry a really large, open area of the house, and certainly doesn't get to every corner. We'll be getting a dehumidifier today, I'm not letting everything sit damp for a minute longer than necessary!

it took us 3 years of living here before we bit the bullet and bought one - we've had new homes, old ones, brick, leaky and wooden... wouldn't be without that dehumidifier though!